WBB Game 17, Con USA Game 6: ODU 7-9 (2-3) @ USM 7-8 (2-2)
The LM will continue to search for there second road win of the season on Saturday against the Lady Techsters of La Tech. I never thought we would be 17 games into the season have one road win...
Small confession at the top. When I think of La Tech, I am still shocked over how Tyler Summitt ended his career. It's just a waste. And because of what Summitt did, I'm pretty sure future athletic directors will pause twice before they hire a really young male coach to lead the women's basketball programs.
La Tech now has co-head coaches in Brooke Stoeher and Scott Stoehr. (they are married) Officially though, Brooke is the one who makes the final calls. Under there leadership, they have gone 7-8 (2-2 in Con USA) including 5-3 at home. While that make them seem vulnerable at home, keep in mind that they the three teams that beat them are in the top 80 in RPI, two in the top 25.
La Tech Record: 7-8 (2-2), RPI: 188. SOS Rank: 149
Vs LSU L 77-73 Record; 14-3 RPI: 17
Vs Grambling St W 69-55 Record: 5-10 RPI: 257
@ Clemson L 78-67 (OT) Record: 11-6 RPI: 129
Vs LSU-Alexandria W 103-63 Record: NAIA school. Does not count in RPI.
@ La-Monroe W 73-55 Record: 1-12 RPI: 340
@ McNeese St W 66-56 Record: 4-7 RPI: 276
Vs Stephen F Austin L 60-58 Record: 10-2 RPI: 78
Vs Nicholis St W 68-52 Record: 5-10 RPI: 329
Vs Auburn L 76-66 Record: 13-5 RPI: 21
@ Memphis L 56-54 Record: 8-8 RPI: 208
@ UL-Lafayette L 80-72 Record: 7-4 RPI: 176
Vs Southern Miss W 72-61 Record: 10-5 (3-1) RPI: 120
@ UTEP L 69-62 Record: 3-12 (1-3) RPI: 293
@ UTSA L 63-61 Record: 6-7 (3-1) RPI: 170
Vs Charlotte W 80-54 Record: 12-4 (4-1) RPI: 68
Vs ODU Record: 7-9 (2-3) RPI: 145
Starting Five
#22 Jasmine LeBlanc 5'10" G SO 11.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 78.4 FT%, 1.3 bpg
#34 Alexus Malone 6'0" F Rs JR 10.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 0.9 bpg
#02 Rochelle Vasquez 5'10" G SR 11.7 ppg, 76.2 FT% , 3.3 apg
#03 Kierra Lang 5'9" G FR
#04 Kierra Anthony 5'6" G SO 11.5 ppg , averages 1.7 3's a game
Top Bench
#12 Darla McCutcheon 5'8" G FR 1.4 apg
#23 Reauna Cleaver 6'2" F SO 9.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg
I have been doing these team write ups for years and this is one of the few times that I can remember a team not publishing updated team stats. I'm disappointed to say the least. But the most stat that I can show you is the team has four players who average double digits and Cleaver comes off the bench giving them strength up the middle and nearly 10 ppg. They don't do a lot of outside shooting, they mostly attach up front.
Lady Techsters Team Stats
PPG....69.6
OPPG..63.5
FG%....44.4
3P%......31.3
3PPG....4.3 (last in Con USA)
FT%......70.6
FTPG....14.9
RPG...41.0
ORPG....35.7
APG....15.5
TPG....18.5
APG/TO ratio: 0.84
BPG: 3.93
La Tech will honor the first national championship team from 35 years ago and give the 1981-82 team there long overdue championship rings. They beat Cheyney State on March 28th, 1982 in a place called Norfolk, VA. (never heard of...) La Tech went 30-1 that season. There only lose came at Norfolk against ODU.
For those curious in the first year of the NCAA tournament, ODU was a one seed and beat St Peter's 75-42 in the first round. And then fell in a shocker to 4 seeded Kansas St 76-67. Even with ODU, the final four was still right here at ODU. Cheyney, lead by HOF head coach C Vivian Stringer, beat Maryland 76-66. La Tech beat Tennessee 69-46. And the rest is rock and roll history.
Two years ago, the legend of Holopainen. Coming off the bench, red hot in the first half. Scoring the game winning three out of nowhere, finishing with a career high 26 points. I know that Annika hasn't lived up to those expectations. But what if....she can do it one more time?
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